Only the flag competition is open at this time.

Please check the section below for the Flag Design rules and submission spot.

The 2023 YAM competition will open soon for entries.

youth art month

The Council for Art Education (CFAE) administers Youth Art Month at the national level. Festivities take place annually, each March, to celebrate visual arts for grades K-12. The Youth Art Month Program emphasizes the value of art education for all children, encourages support for quality school art programs, and promotes art material safety.

View 2025 YAM Exhibition

"yam flag"

Beattrice
Elk River High School

YOUTH ART MONTH FLAG COMPETITION

The theme of this year’s flag competition is The World Needs Art. The winning Middle School flag will represent MN at the NAEA Convention in Chicago, IL in March 2026. Each first place prize winner will receive a flag to keep and all winners will receive gift cards for art supplies.

A purple tinted painting of a young woman sleeping on a couch

2023 Flag Winner

Jayden
St. Paul Academy & Summit School

guidelines

  • Submissions due: Friday, December 19, 2025
  • Judging will take place late December and the winner will be announced early January.
  • Each first place winner will receive a flag to keep and all winners will receive gift cards.
  • Eligibility:
  • Open to K-12 students with a current AEM member teacher. Each AEM member may submit up to 10 designs.
  • The categories are:
  • Elementary (K-5), Middle (6-8), & High School (9-12)
  • How to submit:
  • Click the View Rules and Template Button below for submission information
  • Email a high res image and student release form to yam@artedmn.org
View Rules and Template
(update coming soon)

Not a member of AEM but want to submit student artwork to the contest? Join AEM today and you can be eligible!

2026 Youth Art Month Theme

"THE WORLD NEEDS ART"

guidelines

  • Submissions due: Friday, January 23, 2026
  • Art Exhibitions are currently being planned - stay tuned!
  • Artwork limits:
  • This year's show will be digital! Check back soon for more information!
  • Current members: Current members: Elementary: 6 artworks, Middle School: 4 artworks, High School: 3 artworks. Eligible for award competition.
  • Non-Members: Non-Members: 3 student artworks but not eligible for award competition.
Submit Artwork / View Full Rules
A purple tinted painting of a young woman sleeping on a couch

2023 Middle School 3rd Place

Isabel P.
Middle School

View previous years YAM and Flag Design contest winners

guidelines

  • Submissions due: March 10, 2023
  • The show will be on display in the Rotunda at the MN State Capitol March 20 - April 1 with a closing reception on April 1 from 11-1 (The Capitol is closed on Sundays)
  • Artwork limits:
  • 2D only, must be matted, no glass, no larger than 18" x 24", we will provide labels
  • current AEM members: elementary teachers 6 works of art, middle school teachers 4 works of art, high school teachers 3 works of art
  • non-members can submit up to 3 student works total for a $10 fee.

"Forest landscape"

Mae
8th Grade

OUR SPONSORS

colorful geometric logo for art educators of minnesota

Our mission is to promote and advocate quality art education for all learners. We achieve this by providing professional growth opportunities for Minnesota Visual and Media Arts Educators. Our focus is on learning, collaboration, advocacy, and acknowledgment of excellence in the profession.

Connect with us

To Submit:

Please fill out the form HERE and then email the entry/entries to yam@artedmn.org.